12/30: Fierce or Frightening?

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QIANWEI COUNTY, CHINA - OCTOBER 4: (CHINA OUT) A trainman looks backwards at a steam engine of Jiayang Trainset on October 4, 2007 in Qianwei County of Leshen City, Sichuan Province, China. The narrow-gauge railway was built in 1958 by the Jiayang Coal Mine, it runs at a total length of 19.84 km and the gauge is 76.2 cm, half that of the common standard. These 'living fossils of the Industrial Revolution' are the only old-style narrow-gauge steam locomotives still carrying passengers. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)

Updated at 9:30 AM CDT on Thursday, Dec 31, 2009

MYSTERY TRAIN: The holiday choo-choos pass under a dark tunnel in Pegasus Theatre's who-dun-it tribute to film noir, Death Express!. Set on the Transontinental Express speeding from Los Angeles to New York, this play comes complete with a starlet suspect, a shady conductor and even a murder mystery writer, all eyed by detective Harry Hunsacker in a plot to axe the whole lot of passengers. The troupe uses a special lighting technique called Living Black & White to shroud the stage in Hitchcockian mystique. Tonight's the preview; a New Year's Eve show is slated for tomorrow Find tickets here. Eisemann Center, 8PM.

CAROL OF THE BELLZ: It's what the Wizard of Oz listens to at Christmastime; it's what blows the mind of unsuspecting Mix 102.9 listeners. It's the lightning synth and fiery guitar solos of the Trans-Sibrian Orchestra, and from what we understand, the music is best heard live against an actual fire show. Find tickets here. American Airlines Center, 8PM.

ROCKETTES-IN-RESIDENCE: Tonight's your last chance to partake in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Nokia Theatre, where the glittery Radio City Rockettes execute their more-than-human synchronized choreography. The flying Santa, living nativity, and Nutcracker scenes make the show a one-stop for families (and a complete study of our most abiding traditions, but that's another discussion entirely.) Buy tickets here. 7:30PM.